Lifejackets made compulsory for fishermen in Goa

Panaji: Goa Fisheries Department has made wearing lifejackets compulsory for the fishermen at sea on trawlers or canoes.
The state witnessed a devastating impact of cyclone Phyan two years back, in which 60 fishermen were killed, largely due to lack of safety gear.

Deputy director of Fisheries Department, Nandkishor Verlekar, said the lifejackets have been made mandatory from February this year.

"The government has launched a financial assistant scheme for the fishermen to procure these jackets," he said, adding that 75 percent of the cost of the jackets would be reimbursed by the state government.

As per a rough estimate, there are around 10,000 fishermen in the state.

Verlekar said fishermen were "rattled and now fear going off the coast without lifejackets," after the cyclone.

As per the state directive, there has to be a set of five lifejackets and one life-buoy on the fishing canoes, while on trawlers, each crew member will have to wear a jacket and there has to be four life buoys.